A World Heritage Site, this quarter was the embryo of Granada and still retains the essence of its Muslim past. Buildings, squares, lovely narrow streets... Everything remembers its Andalusian origin. Much of its charm resides in the cármenes (traditional houses with interior gardens) and the stunning viewpoints. Firstly, it was the residence of the Ziri kings, later, refuge for many Moriscos. 500 years after, the adzhan is heard again at the top of Albaicín quarter.
Info & Location
City/Province: Granada
Type of Experience:
Islamic heritage
Address: 18010 Granada, Spain
How to get there: The minibuses C31 and C32 take you to the Albaycin from the city center (Plaza de Isabel la Católica). One of the stops of the C31 will leave you next to one of the essential visits here: the viewpoint of San Nicolás. To access the neighborhood by walking, two of the most common entrances are from the Puerta de Elvira or from Plaza Nueva.
Points of interest: You will find a dozen viewpoints (the most famous is San Nicolás), minarets of ancient mosques, cármenes (big houses with an interior garden) -De los Mártires, de la Victoria, Max Moreau...-, Morisco houses, palaces, monumental gates (such as Monaíta), islamics cisterns (as Aljibe del Rey) and baths (as the Bañuelo), museums (the Archaeological is one of them), narrow streets and small squares full of charm, and the new Great Mosque (Mezquita Mayor). In total, about 40 monuments.
Our tip: Keep in mind that the Albaycin literally extends on a hill, so you'll find many slopes. A good idea: get to any of the high points in public transport (for example, the Plaza de San Nicolás, next to the viewpoint and the New Mosque) and then walk downhill.
